Rogers Heritage Clips Har-Ber

SPRINGDALE -- Rogers Heritage looked as though it might cruise to its first state tournament berth in school history Friday night at Wildcat Arena.

Springdale Har-Ber had other ideas, rallying from a 15-point first half deficit to take the lead into the fourth quarter. But Heritage hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 90 seconds to claim a hard-fought 57-54 victory and the first state tournament berth in school history.

Rogers Heritage 57, Springdale Har-Ber 54

Heritage^15^17^8^17^—^57

Har-Ber^10^16^18^10^—^54

Rogers Heritage (15-10, 5-7): C. Olsen 23, Hirsh 17, Kinnamon 15, Sams 2.

Springdale Har-Ber (11-13, 3-9): Buccheri 16, Jones, 13, Fox 7, Davis 7, Cline 5, Jones 5, Brandon 1.

"I thought our guys really persevered at the end and just really never gave up," Heritage coach Tom Olsen said. "Credit Har-Ber for coming out in the second half and kinda knocking us back on our heels. But we got some loose balls, made some free throws at the end. That's kinda out game isn't it?"

Heritage (15-10, 5-7 7A/6A-West Conference) held Har-Ber (11-13, 3-9) to just one field goal in the fourth quarter until the Wildcats made two layups in the final 10 seconds. The War Eagles also made a living at foul line, making 27 of 33 on the night.

The trio of Crist Olsen, Connor Hirsh and Wyatt Kinnamon combined for all but two of the War Eagles' 57 points. Olsen poured in a game-high 23 points, while Hirsh added 17 and Kinnamon 15. It was Kinnamon, the 5-10 senior, who put the game away with 5-of-6 free throws in the final 46.7 seconds. The trio combined to make 25 of 31 from the free throw line.

Olsen said his team might have been thinking about that first state tournament berth in school history too soon, when the War Eagles led 25-10 early in the second quarter.

"Our kids played a little nervous," Olsen said. We look up and we're up 15 and we started thinking about the outcome way too early. I told the kids we win this one I'm making hotel reservations for Conway."

Har-Ber clawed back though and held a 44-40 lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats couldn't hold it.

Har-Ber coach Scott Bowlin credited Heritage for getting up off the deck, after taking a big shot from the Wildcats.

"We punched them in the face and about knocked them out, but they got up and made plays," Bowlin said. "They made free throws. My kids battled and we had a chance and that's all I can ask for from my perspective is have a chance to win. Then we have to make plays and we just have a hard time making plays at critical times."

Senior Brandon Buccheri led Har-Ber with 16 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Landan Jones, a 6-5 senior, added 13.

Heritage will now host crosstown rival Rogers High on Tuesday and close the regular season at Siloam Springs. Har-Ber travels to Fayetteville on Tuesday and closes the season by hosting Rogers.

Sports on 02/22/2014

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